Contents:

• Airway : Surgical Airway
• C Spine # : Immobilisation for transport to specialist unit
• Cardiac Tamponade : ER Thoracotomy & Repair of Cardiac Laceration
• Burns : Escharotomy

   An Escharotomy must be performed in the case of circumferential full thickness burns of the limbs and chest. You should not wait for signs of a compartment syndrome. The incision is run the length of the eschar and down to viable subcutaneous tissue. Because sensory nerves are destroyed in a full thickness burn, no local anaesthetic is required. Fasciotomy is not necessary acutely but limb obs must performed to exclude late compartment syndrome from muscle oedema.

   (Finger escharotomy should be discussed with a hand surgeon. Remember to remove rings, bracelets etc).

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